How to stop mando's resonance at D?

[Marshall]

I have a Mid-Mo M-3. #Quite happy with it in general. #The one thing that bothers me is that there's a resonance in the instrument so that if I play a D on the A strings, the octave harmonic on the D strings starts ringing. #Nice if I needed a drone, I suppose, but often annoying. # I don't notice this happening with harmonics on other strings. #I assume that this is just something about the acoustics of this particular instrument.

Any suggestions?

[Bruce Evans]

To me that would mean that you have a very responsive (good) instrument. Congratulations! This happens on all string instruments to some degree. Find a free finger to damp the string if you don't want it to ring.

[Marshall]

Thanks Tocotodo. But ... darn, it's really annoying sometimes. For example, if I hit a D on the A string just so that I can slide up to an E, the D harmonics are about as loud as the E in the end, as if I'd played two strings rather than one. I noticed yesterday that the second harmonic on the G string--this harmonic is also a D--is also ringings, so merely dampening the D string isn't enough. I've got to have fingers on three strings just to play a couple of notes on one of them?!? Will work around it.... I still think this is a nice instrument, and I was able to afford it, so I can't complain.

[A Brown]

I had a similar problem on the A string on a Fylde Touchstone and fixed it at very little cost with a Weber Wood Nymph. Follow the link from the Cafe home page and go to "Products".

Alastair

[AlanN]

Try Steven Stone String Silencers.

[duuuude]

grommets http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

[Michael H Geimer]

Now, I sure like having a Wood Nymph on my M-11, but I just tested to see what happens when I play that D on the A-string ... Riiiingggg went the D-string harmonic, and LOUD, too! So, grommet, etc. might not alleviate the offensive tone.

Somehow it's never bothered me.

[Coy Wylie]

I recently started using a Wood Nymph but found the grommet on the E pair would move a bit if the heel of my right hand got too heavy. I solved this by using a couple of wraps on that grommet with one of my daughters tiny dental rubber bands.

Of course this has nothing to do with the original post but I thought it might be a suggestion for anyone else with a moving Nymph.

I like the sound of that D resonance. Perhaps it contributes to the "ancient tones."

[Marshall]

Thanks everyone. Come to think of it, I do need a wood nymph. #My latest strings started making noise down there, and maybe I'm too lazy to go find some felt or something and cut it up. #Still, I don't see how that would help with sounds coming out of the main length of the strings--Benignus' result makes sense to me.# #The Steven Stone string silencers aren't jumping out at me as I poke around the web looking, but I'll keep looking. Otherwise, I'll just enjoy the "ancient tones", and stay away from the key of Eb. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Peter Hackman]

On reading the original post I went home and checked my technique. I find am damping strings all the time,
at the end of phrases,
without even thinking of it. Also noticed that, e.g.,
if I note a d on the a course, with my third finger,
my second finger will touch the d course at the f#
at the same time. And I also tend to look for things in higher positions,
leaving no strings open.

[Marshall]

OK. #So it's just my beginner technique that's the real problem; the mando is normal. #I will just keep practicing. #Thanks.